🇬🇧🇨🇳 awful - 可怕 : English Lesson

Meaning of "awful" ("可怕"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

If something is awful, it is very, very bad, unpleasant, or terrible. An awful thing can make you feel unhappy, sick, scared, or annoyed, like a terrible smell, a yucky taste, or a really mean behavior.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

The roller coaster photo of me was so awful that the camera apologized when it printed it.

The smell from the school cafeteria was so awful that my appetite packed its bags and went on vacation.

Our band practice was so awful that the piano asked to be turned into a bookshelf instead.

My haircut was so awful that my reflection in the mirror tried to close its eyes.

The smell from my gym socks was so awful that my dog filed a complaint and moved to the backyard.

Sam had a cake. The cake looked nice but it tasted awful. A dog came and made an awful mess. The cake had an awful smell and the park was awful with mud. Sam felt awful and began to cry. Then his mum gave a new cake and he smiled.

This word is at the A2 level, which means it’s useful for simple, everyday situations. You might use it when shopping, traveling, or talking about your hobbies. Words at this level help you build confidence in practical, routine conversations.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.